A Vision Not Based in Reality is Simply a Collection of False Promises

Before addressing some of the proposals being put forward in this year's Board of Education election, I want to establish something important.

Over the past several years, beginning with former Mayor Luccarelli, and continuing under former Mayor Foster and my administration, the Holmdel Township Committee has worked hard to rebuild what was once a fractured relationship with the Holmdel Board of Education.

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That effort has produced meaningful results, including nearly $9 million in financial support for our school district in cash and grants over the past three years. It represents an extraordinary commitment by the Township and reflects our shared belief that strong schools are essential to a strong community.

We continue to maintain a productive, collaborative relationship with current Board leaders Pete Reddy and Kim Tuccillo. I also believe Raymond Kim is a good man working to do what's right for our children, and I have confidence that Anthony Libecci and Alison LoPresti bring the experience and leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead.

As your Mayor, a Holmdel High School graduate, and the parent of two current Holmdel High School students and a recent graduate, I care deeply about the future of our district. I also believe I have a responsibility to ensure residents have accurate information about the decisions affecting our schools and our property taxes.

That is why I want to address a recently published statement from Board of Education candidate Jen Ashkar outlining what she describes as a "forward-thinking vision" for Holmdel schools.

Her proposals include:

• "Equitable" sharing of PILOT revenues
• Expanded tuition-based programs
• Advocating at the state level for affordable healthcare
• Expanded summer academic offerings

At first glance, these ideas may sound reasonable. But a vision not based in reality is simply a collection of false promises.

And with Holmdel facing serious financial challenges, residents deserve more. Let's tackle each point …

1. Equitable Sharing of PILOT Revenues

Let's begin with the facts.

Holmdel Township operates a $33 million budget to provide essential services to roughly 17,000 residents across 17 square miles. Our school district operates on a budget of approximately $75 million.

PILOT revenues are already incorporated into the Township's budget and help support the municipal services our residents rely upon.

Yet there continues to be a narrative, advanced by some Board members and candidates, that PILOT agreements are somehow depriving our schools of funding.

This is irrefutably false.

The Bell Works redevelopment has generated more than $1 million annually in school tax revenues, compared with approximately $300,000 before redevelopment.

The new 23 Main Street development is also expected to generate increasing school revenues over the life of its 30-year PILOT agreement, heavily exceeding what the property currently contributes to the schools.

Furthermore, Holmdel's tax assessor has publicly explained on the record, on multiple occasions, that the Township's PILOT program does not negatively impact the school district's revenues. His presentation is available here for you to review, read the whole thing or skip to page 39 if you'd like.

And, for the sake of repetition, the Township has provided nearly $9 million in direct financial support to the schools over the past three years.

That is a significant commitment, one that should be acknowledged rather than dismissed.

Further, Ms. Ashkar's proposal raises several important questions:

What exactly does "equitable sharing" mean? How much additional funding is she proposing? Which municipal services or expenditures would be affected? And how would she ensure that shifting revenues from one local budget to another doesn't simply transfer the financial burden back to the same taxpayers?

These are fundamental questions of fiscal responsibility.

The Township has demonstrated its willingness to support our schools, and we will continue working collaboratively with district leadership. But we must also protect our ability to deliver essential municipal services and maintain fiscal stability.

Renegotiating existing PILOT agreements is not the solution, and shifting financial responsibility between two taxpayer-funded budgets does not create new money.

The Board of Education has its own significant budget (nearly 2.5x that of the township!), responsibilities, and authority. It must be prepared to make difficult decisions, explain those decisions, and be accountable for the results. The Board of Education has the ability to go to the public via referendum and request additional funding – why is that notably absent from her plan? Why doesn't she seem to want to make her case to the taxpayers?

2. Expanded Tuition-Based Programs

Expanding tuition-based programs may sound like an attractive way to generate revenue. But before embracing that proposal, residents should understand exactly what it entails.

Is Ms. Ashkar proposing to dramatically increase tuition for existing programs, such as preschool? If so, by how much, and what would that mean for Holmdel families?

Or is she proposing to significantly expand enrollment to students from outside the district? Of the two, this could have the more meaningful revenue impact – but at what cost?

How many additional students would be admitted? Would existing classroom capacity support that enrollment? Would additional teachers, support staff, transportation, or other services be required? Would the tuition collected actually exceed the full cost of educating those students? And, most importantly, are we going to sacrifice academic excellence to make a quick buck?

Ms. Ashkar is running under the banner "Advocates for Education". Is she, along with her running mates, advocating for Holmdel to educate the entire Bayshore?

There may be opportunities to generate additional revenue through carefully structured tuition programs. But the financial benefit cannot simply be assumed.

Any proposal must account for staffing, facilities, educational resources, enrollment capacity, and the potential impact on existing Holmdel students.

Our schools have earned their reputation for academic excellence through years of investment, hard work, and community commitment. Protecting that excellence must remain the priority.

Revenue generation is only a benefit if it produces a genuine net financial gain without compromising the educational experience of the students our district already serves.

Before asking taxpayers to support this idea, Ms. Ashkar should explain the specific programs she wants to expand, the projected revenue, the associated expenses, and the anticipated impact on our schools.

That is what a credible financial proposal requires.

3. Advocating for Affordable Healthcare at the State Level

On this issue, I agree with the underlying concern.

Healthcare costs are placing enormous pressure on municipal and school budgets throughout New Jersey. Holmdel is certainly not alone.

But recognizing a problem is not the same as presenting a solution.

Our state legislators, including Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, and Senator Declan O'Scanlon, have already been raising concerns about these escalating costs and the financial strain being placed on local governments and school districts.

The question is what Ms. Ashkar intends to do differently.

What specific reforms would she advocate? What legislative or regulatory changes does she support? And how would she build the relationships and support necessary to advance those changes?

These are complex statewide issues that require sustained advocacy, an understanding of the underlying cost drivers, and the ability to work effectively with policymakers.

I welcome anyone willing to join that effort.

But simply stating that we should advocate for affordable healthcare is not a new strategy. It is an acknowledgment of a problem we already know exists.

Holmdel needs leaders who understand the obstacles, can articulate specific solutions, and are prepared to do the work necessary to pursue them.

4. Expanded Summer Academic Offerings

I support opportunities that help our students learn, grow, and succeed, including meaningful summer academic programs.

But once again, the missing piece is the financial plan.

Expanding programs requires resources. Teachers and staff must be compensated. Facilities must be operated and maintained. Materials, transportation, and other expenses may need to be considered.

With the school district already confronting substantial budgetary pressures, where will the funding come from?

Would these programs be tuition-based? Would they be self-sustaining? Would they require reallocating resources from existing programs? Or would they create additional costs for taxpayers?

These questions matter, particularly when the district is already facing difficult decisions about staffing, transportation, and other essential services.

Expanding educational opportunities is a worthwhile goal. But responsible leadership means identifying how to pay for those opportunities before promising to deliver them.

Holmdel Needs Experience, Accountability, and Real Solutions

I don't question that Ms. Ashkar wants good things for our schools. I believe most people who seek public office do.

But good intentions alone are not enough.

Our district is navigating one of the most challenging financial periods in recent memory. Rising healthcare costs, state funding limitations, contractual obligations, and increasing operational expenses are creating real pressures on our schools and our taxpayers.

The decisions ahead will not be easy, and they will not be resolved through slogans or broad promises.

They will require experience, financial discipline, collaboration, transparency, and a willingness to make difficult decisions.

We cannot afford to confuse identifying a problem with solving it. And we cannot continue treating the Township as the answer to every financial challenge facing the school district.

The Township has stepped up in an extraordinary way, and we remain committed to supporting our schools. But collaboration must be accompanied by accountability, and every level of local government has a responsibility to manage the resources entrusted to it.

Ms. Ashkar and her running mates are campaigning on a message of change. That's their right, and voters should consider what they have to offer.

But voters should also ask a straightforward question:

What specifically would change, how would it be accomplished, and who would pay for it?

Holmdel residents are thoughtful, engaged, and deeply invested in their schools. They deserve substantive answers.

As Mayor, I will continue working with anyone who is genuinely committed to protecting our schools, supporting our students, and respecting our taxpayers.

But I will also continue challenging proposals that lack the detail, financial analysis, or practical understanding necessary to deliver meaningful results.

Holmdel's future is too important for promises without plans. Our students deserve excellence. Our schools deserve strong leadership. And our taxpayers deserve accountability.

That's not politics. That's responsible government.